Filtered By: Topstories
News

PCG to hold first trilateral maritime exercise with US, Japan in June


The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Monday said it would conduct its first trilateral maritime exercise with the United States Coast Guard (USCG) and the Japan Coast Guard (JCG) in June.

In a statement, the PCG said the trilateral maritime exercise will be held at the vicinity waters off Mariveles, Bataan from June 1 to June 7.

The maritime exercise aims to improve interoperability of the three countries through communication exercises, maneuvering drills, photo exercises, maritime law enforcement training, search and rescue (SAR), and passing exercises.

Coast Guard personnel will demonstrate a scenario where they will encounter a suspected vessel involved in piracy, according to the PCG.

Also, the joint law enforcement team from the three Coast Guards will conduct a boarding inspection followed by a SAR operation, it added.

The PCG said it will deploy BRP Melchora Aquino, BRP Gabriela Silang, BRP Boracay, and one 44-meter multi-role response vessel for the maritime exercise.

On the other hand, the USCG and JCG will send USCGC Stratton (WMSL-752) and Akitsushima (PLH-32), respectively, the PCG said.

"The US Coast Guard and Japan Coast Guard have been assisting us in our human resource development program, particularly in law enforcement training,” PCG officer-in-charge Vice Admiral Rolando Lizor Punzalan Jr. said.

“This is a good opportunity to thank and show them what our personnel learned from their programs," he added.

An arrival ceremony is set at Pier 15, South Harbor, Manila on June 1.

Among the invited officials in the ceremony were US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Loss Carlson, Embassy of Japan's Deputy Chief of Mission and Minister Kenichi Matsuda, and JICA chief representative in the Philippines Takema Sakamoto

From the Philippines’ side, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo and Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista are also expected to come.—Joviland Rita/AOL, GMA Integrated News

LOADING CONTENT